Hungry for company?
Come eat with us across Africa!
We want to be the Airbnb of home-cooked meals across Africa. We find the best hosts, in neighborhoods you might not know, who cook the foods you won’t find in restaurants and offer you a seat at their table to eat together. Check out our locations below. Book a meal and get ready for a great time of connection, cuisine and culture!
We also made a really fun YouTube video that helps you pronounce Jiranileo – our invented Bantu word combining the words “neighbor” and “today” in Kiswahili.
We love gathering but would hate for anyone to spread COVID-19 at our meals. Check out our Invitations FAQs to see our COVID-19 safety policy.
Invitations
Zanzibar Islands: Unguja and Pemba
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Secret spice
We have a secret: You aren’t going to find traditional Zanzibari food in most restaurants on the islands. We had traveled to Zanzibar dozens of times before we were introduced to the real Zanzibari cuisine by local friends. We gathered for meals with their family members, and sitting on mats together, we tasted how the islands’ spices were used to flavor their everyday meals. With Jiranileo, you experience a side of Zanzibari life completely out of view to most visitors. Book with our hosts across the islands and get ready to use our favorite Kiswahili word: “Tamu” (sweet/delicious)!
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Tanzania’s Northern Circuit: Arusha, Moshi and Kilimanjaro
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Get out of the hotel
You’ve hiked the mountains and photographed the animals. If you think northern Tanzania is impressive now, just wait until you meet the people. Tanzanians living in Arusha and Kilimanjaro have the reputation of being the most hard-working and disciplined in the country. These regions have produced many prominent senior government officials and also successful businesspersons. Both cities have a colorful history that is best shared from the voices of men and women over a meal. Come meet our hosts and find out what inspires them about their city.
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Zambia’s Great East Road: Katete and Chipata
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A taste of the village
The Great East Road stretches 550 km from the capital city of Lusaka to Chipata, the provincial capital where you can branch off to South Luangwa Game Park or continue to the Malawi border. With the roads lined with forest and farms, you would think Eastern Province is sparsely populated. In fact, there are almost 2 million people living in thousands of villages just out of sight from the road. A short turn-off on a good feeder road takes you to our Jiranileo hosts and a memorable lunch on your journey. Try foods that aren’t found in city markets and learn about the Nyanja tribal traditions of the Nsenga, Chewa, Kunda, and Ngoni people over a meal.
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• Zambia’s Southern Province – Livingstone & Lake Kariba
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Zambezi Warmth
The Zambezi River, with Victoria Falls and the Kariba Dam, is a top attraction in Zambia. Take time to step away from the water and meet the communities that make Southern Zambia their home. We welcome you to join local families for a Zambian traditional meal in their homes.
Tukalye! (Let’s go and eat!)
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Urban Tanzania: Dar es Salaam
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Organized chaos
The vibrant city of Dar es Salaam has over 5 million people and is one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Even in the organized chaos of daily life, Tanzanians still maintain their deep-rooted cultural value of hospitality. From the bustling shop-filled neighborhood of Kariokoo, to the laid-back beach town of Mbezi, you will always hear people say “karibu chakula” (loosely: “you are welcome to eat with me.”) Jiranileo hosts represent a fusion of cultures and nationalities, and our hosts take advantage of the year-round availability of fresh ingredients to give you a taste of their own Tanzanian lifestyle.
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Urban Zambia: Lusaka
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Everybody smile!
Always with a smile, Zambians make guests feel right at home. There is a joke that if a Zambian accidentally calls a wrong number, they don’t hang up, but instead ask about your day and become your friend. Even in their modern lifestyle, most town Zambians hang onto traditional ways: Keeping a family farm; proudly celebrating tribal ceremonies; and speaking one of the nation’s 72 languages. Ask them about matebeto, the tradition where the bride’s family cooks their recipes for the groom’s family. And be ready to answer the question: “Mwadyela?” which literally means “did you eat well?” but is commonly used to ask if you are happy with life. Smile, and answer “Nadyela!”
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Uganda:Kampala & Entebe
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Go bananas
Are you living in or planning a trip to Uganda? We would love to have you as our first customers! Kampala and Entebbe are next on our list to start Jiranileo, and we are waiting patiently, masks on, for borders and flights to resume. Our new goal is to launch safely in 2021.
Coming Soon
Dar es Salaam: Outside City Limits
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Safi sana!
Some days it feels good to beat the heat and get out of the urban city for a meal. We have hosts in the walkable hills of University of Dar es Salaam (west of the city, 13 km from downtown on 1625 acres). This area has the best views of the city!
Going for a beach day? We have hosts in Kigamboni (by South Beach, just over the bridge from downtown Dar), and Bagamoyo (northern beaches 67km up the coast from Dar.) Add a stop at our hosts’ homes for lunch or dinner to your day trips.
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